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  #11  
Old 08-09-2015, 02:06 PM
Toobuilder's Avatar
Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g zero View Post
At a second glance not so much . We had a Kit Fox wth a Franklin at the airport last year . Full of issues with piston fit , leakage , overheating , after 40 hours it was removed . Not sure what it was replaced with .
Someone tried a kitfox with 220 HP on the nose?

Anyway, Franklins were pretty mainstream engines once upon a time. They have provided millions of hours of reliable service.
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  #12  
Old 08-09-2015, 03:55 PM
g zero g zero is offline
 
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Default Franklin

The Kit Fox had the 4 cylinder 125 .
Once apon a time Subarus looked good . I hate seeing someone spend countless hours and money on a homebuilt plane only to end up frustrated or killed by using a "Broken Promise Powerplant ".
I have first hand knowledge of the poor quality of the Franklin Engine .
I would put a timed out Lycoming on the nose before the Franklin .
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  #13  
Old 08-09-2015, 04:06 PM
g zero g zero is offline
 
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I don't think the New Franklin can be compared to the Old Franklin . I believe the new one is built in Poland . My bad experience is related to only 1 engine , but there was zero factory support .
If there is some good experience out there let's hear about it .
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  #14  
Old 08-09-2015, 05:43 PM
N427EF N427EF is offline
 
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Quote:
I don't think the New Franklin can be compared to the Old Franklin . I believe the new one is built in Poland
It is still the same engine

Quote:
but there was zero factory support
There is still no factory support and the few shops that used to service Franklins are very scarce.
You are very much on your own even more so than screwing around with a Subaru but it is experimental aviation and anyone willing to try something new
has a lot of company among Rvators.

You'll have to build your own engine mount and exhaust system,
no small feat even for an experienced gear head.

Weight is hard to pinpoint.
My RV-8 with IO 360 and fixed pitch Sensenich weighed the same as
the Franklin Powered RV-8.
Much effort was spent to keep the weight of the Franklin powered RV down.
Build time stretched out 2 more years after I completed my Lyc powered RV-8.

There is no mechanical fuel pump available for the Franklin, you are stuck with
electric pumps. (no big deal)

You are limited to a McCauley Propeller or maybe an IVO Prop.
(Scariest Prop I ever tried)

On a side by side trip to Oshkosh from California we compared efficiency and
my IO 360 lost by about 10% on fuel economy. (Not a good comparison fixed pitch against constant speed)
If you bring the mogas equation into the picture I would be ahead by dollars.

Taking resale value into account for those who care about it, you decide.

If you want 6 cylinder smoothness, go for the IO 540 and you'll spend less
time making it work than re engineering the front end of an RV for a 220 hp Franklin.
Hang a light weight MT prop on it and you are down to a few pounds of weight shifting to get your CG in the right place.
You'll be able to fly anywhere and get service and parts on a moments notice.
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  #15  
Old 08-09-2015, 06:01 PM
g zero g zero is offline
 
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It may look like the same engine but it is not a quality piece . Ever been to Harbor Freight and see a tool that looks like a Snap On ? it may look the same but made from **** and have **** tolerances .
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  #16  
Old 08-12-2015, 01:49 PM
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hlangebro hlangebro is offline
 
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Default Franklin

Do you mean that the Polish built Franklin is worse when it comes to quality and tolerance, or did you mean it the other way around?
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